I Need Surgery for Detached Tendon in Shoulder

[zogger]

Just talked to the doc and they need to do shoulder surgery to reattach a tendon. It is my left arm but fortunately I am right handed.

Doc says 5 weeks in a sling, a couple of months rehab, and should be good as new in 6 months. Outpatient procedure so I don't have to eat the hospital food....so I have that going for me!

Any feedback, hints, etc. for anyone who has had similar surgery would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[NYlakesider]

Just talked to the doc and they need to do shoulder surgery to reattach a tendon. It is my left arm but fortunately I am right handed.

Doc says 5 weeks in a sling, a couple of months rehab, and should be good as new in 6 months. Outpatient procedure so I don't have to eat the hospital food....so I have that going for me!

Any feedback, hints, etc. for anyone who has had similar surgery would be appreciated.

Thanks!

All I had in that department was a fractured shoulder and it took a bit of PT (rehab) to regain strength.

What I can do is wish you a good procedure and a fast healing.

 

[WardenRoss]

I had a 100% rotator tear with both biceps brachia detached in 2012 in my weak arm.

I had the rotator repaired and the brachia reattached in the same surgery.

I had to wear a "straight jacket" for my left arm (immobile, against my chest) and sleep sitting-up for five-weeks. Any stress placed on that arm would tear apart the mending brachia.

I started physical therapy at the sixth-week. It was the devil. I had to take narcotics before each session. Mine was complicated because you would normally start the rotator therapy much sooner. Because of the wait, my rotator had scared over and it took a lot to break it loose.

I did the prescribed home exercises per the book. I walked two-miles per day. I had a wonderful therapist! IIRC it took six-weeks of work to get any use out of that shoulder.

My repaired shoulder is better than new! I workout daily and mine is a complete success.

Now I need to do the right side. LOL!

I've have friends that had similar surgery and they are whimps and wouldn't do the work and follow the therapist's orders. They will murmur and fuss about how bad their surgeon was when it was their laziness that is the real problem.

That painful rehab ain't no joke. The home exercises are as important as the supervised therapy sessions.

Best of luck with the repair!

 

[ldausmc1369]

Had both tendons and bicep reattached two years ago! Hurt like a mofo! But, after 6 months of PT x3 weekly and home exercising good as new. Now, for the other side...

 

[delcrossv]

Had it done 4 years ago- Slip in the ice detached tendon on top of shoulder. Just be rigorous on doing your PT and you'll be fine.

Also ask your surgeon if they're going to cut the proximal bicep tendon, if so, have them pin it. (else bicep can slide down and make a large lump by your elbow).

And arthroscopic is much better than open surgery.

 

[beaverislander]

I had rotator cuff surgery and some spurs removed 3 weeks, 5 days ago. Still in the immobilizer for at least another 9 days when I see the doc again.
You'll likely be laid up for 4-6 months so try to get everything done now. I had 3 weeks notice and had to get the winter wood cut, split and stacked in that time.
I had to go to the big city for surgery and as long as I was there bought a new 12ga the following day. Haven't shot it yet but it gives me something to look forward to.

 

[wundudnee]

I had trouble with my shoulders dislocating when I was in my early thirties. They would dislocate sometimes in my sleep. The operation at that time was to cut the tendon, drill a hole, put the tendon through, tie a knot in it and use a couple staples to hold it. They don't do that now, but I am sure the pain is still there. DO THE THERAPY! I am now eighty and have had no problem since except for a little lack of motion.

 

[badge]

Plan on sleeping in an upright position for a few weeks as at least in my case,... full Rotator Cuff tear and various and sundry torn Ligaments and Tendons necessitated this.

 

[CScott]

I'm looking forward to a similar procedure in a few weeks after my elk hunt. Torn cuff and ruptured biceps tendon. I hope I don't have to learn to flycast left handed.
Best of luck to you.
And me!

 

[zogger]

I'm looking forward to a similar procedure in a few weeks after my elk hunt. Torn cuff and ruptured biceps tendon. I hope I don't have to learn to flycast left handed.
Best of luck to you.
And me!

Good luck. I hope you get an elk! Post a pix!

 

[ordnanceguy]

From personal experience, I can tell you that the time immediately following shoulder surgery can be extremely painful. For obvious reasons, you will want to minimize the use of any heavy duty pain meds. My strong recommendation is that you ask your doctor to prescribe the use of a cold therapy "ice machine" which greatly reduces swelling and pain. Some insurers do not cover the cost but in my view they are worth paying for out of pocket.

There are a number of such machines on the market. The one my doctor recommended was the Game Ready machine. For me it worked great. I think my recovery period would have been a whole lot worse for me without it.

Good luck!

 

[Rustyt1953]

I have no experience with this type of surgery but I do have experience with praying for successful outcomes and rapid recovery times and that's just what I'm going to do.

 

[zogger]

I have no experience with this type of surgery but I do have experience with praying for successful outcomes and rapid recovery times and that's just what I'm going to do.

Thank you! I appreciate your doing that.

 

[GaryS]

My wife had her tendon repaired about three years ago. Day surgery, and the first three days were miserable for her. Fortunately, it was her right shoulder and she's left handed.

She spent the first three days sitting up in a recliner because she couldn't lie down. She had an ice machine, which was paid for by her supplemental insurance. I spent most of those three days running down to the local convenience store buying bagged ice.

The ice did a great job reducing the swelling and made her recovery much faster.

After that, she started to recover quickly, although it was some time before she could drive. She did the PT and had excellent results.

From what I saw, I would advise not to skimp on the pain medications for the first three days. After that, she tapered off pretty quickly.

From personal experience, I can tell you that the time immediately following shoulder surgery can be extremely painful. For obvious reasons, you will want to minimize the use of any heavy duty pain meds. My strong recommendation is that you ask your doctor to prescribe the use of a cold therapy "ice machine" which greatly reduces swelling and pain. Some insurers do not cover the cost but in my view they are worth paying for out of pocket.

There are a number of such machines on the market. The one my doctor recommended was the Game Ready machine. For me it worked great. I think my recovery period would have been a whole lot worse for me without it.

Good luck!

 

[mbliss57]

I had full RC tear on 3 tendons and biceps tenndon 2015.(Also fell on ice) I fell and retore it later that year ( wet tile floor) More surgery and fell again 2017 and tore it again (icy steps at daughters). Then replacemnt with reverse shoulder replacement. Still mending some from that. All in all it went very well if I had not kept retearing it. That is my fault not Docs.
Retraing it at 1st is key.. then Rehab is key and using it alot (after Doc says its ok) is key. God speed.

 

[zogger]

So last week I slipped on ice and damaged my previously good right shoulder. Saw doc and got MRI....the right has two torn tendons!

So minor change of plan. Surgery still on for tomorrow but doc will do right shoulder instead of left. After right is better (6 months or more), he will do the left.

Obviously I have to pamper both arms since if I hurt the left too much, I will have issue with both arms until the right gets better.

Wife is being great. I hope I don't drive her nuts.

Ofcourse no shooting for quite a long time.

 

[NYlakesider]

So last week I slipped on ice and damaged my previously good right shoulder. Saw doc and got MRI....the right has two torn tendons!

So minor change of plan. Surgery still on for tomorrow but doc will do right shoulder instead of left. After right is better (6 months or more), he will do the left.

Obviously I have to pamper both arms since if I hurt the left too much, I will have issue with both arms until the right gets better.

Wife is being great. I hope I don't drive her nuts.

Of course no shooting for quite a long time.

Look at the bright side, no snow shoveling for you!

All kidding aside I hope your now changed surgery goes well and you heel fast.

 

[soFlaNative]

That's a rough go, sorry to read you dinged your good arm.
Best Wishes for an uneventful recovery and follow up.
You're going to find out who your real friends are when they find you can't reach behind with either hand!.
Good Luck with the procedure.

 

[glenwolde]

Be sure the anesthesiologist is on your plan.....I got nailed on that one. Doctor was on plan, Surgery Center was on the plan. Didn't think about anesthesiologist.

 

[old pipefitter]

Just talked to the doc and they need to do shoulder surgery to reattach a tendon. It is my left arm but fortunately I am right handed.

Doc says 5 weeks in a sling, a couple of months rehab, and should be good as new in 6 months. Outpatient procedure so I don't have to eat the hospital food....so I have that going for me!

Any feedback, hints, etc. for anyone who has had similar surgery would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I had this done in Oct 2018, Do the physical therapy as prescribed and you'll be fine. I couldn't shoot any large rifles for quite awhile, Or magnum pistols. I was in the sling for 3 weeks 24/7 and ditched it a week early. It took about 8 months to get all my shoulder strength back. My problem was I'm right handed and it was my right shoulder.